The 26th PACE Conference brought together over 200 participants representing 29 institutions from five states for a vibrant day of reflection, learning, and civic joy. Administrators, faculty, students, and community partners gathered to recommit to the “civic mission” of higher education, and our collective responsibility to strengthen the civic health of our local communities. Through celebration and workshops, keynotes and artistic expressions, participants imagined how they can strengthen America by investing fully in civic and community engagement at the local level. After a day filled with civic energy – featuring 3 plenary sessions, 9 award winners, 26 workshop options, 40 door prizes, and countless opportunities to connect and collaborate, attendees returned to their campuses with a renewed motivation to spark civic joy in the communities they call home.
The event opened with powerful words from Leslie Garvin, Executive Director of North Carolina Campus Engagement, who set the tone by calling to light the agency and care that is required to foster true belonging in our communities. Dr. Timothy K. Eatman, Dean of the Honors Living – Learning Community and Professor of Urban Education at Rutgers University-Newark, followed with a thought-provoking message that challenged institutions to embrace bold, imaginative action in higher education.
The 2025 NCCE Engagement Awards, sponsored by GivePulse, honored staff, faculty, campuses, and community partners who demonstrated excellence in civic and community engagement. These changemakers demonstrated extraordinary dedication and leadership in civic and community engagement.
- Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award – Kate Johnson, Ed.D., University of North Carolina Asheville
- Engaged Faculty Award – Phillip Motley, MFA., Elon University
- Barnhill Civic Trailblazer Award – Jaya Dayal, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Community Partner Award – R.N. Harris Elementary School & North Carolina Central University
- Leo M. Lambert Engaged Leader Award – Chancellor Randy Woodson, North Carolina State University
The winners of the 2024 NC Collegiate Hunger Challenge, a partnership with Food Lion Feeds and NC Campus Engagement that addresses food insecurity on college campuses, were also celebrated.
During the conference, Presidents and Chancellors representing 18 colleges and universities convened at the 15th Presidents Forum. Through a series of speakers and intentional discussions, these leaders explored their visions for advancing the future of civic and social responsibility within higher education at their institutions and beyond.
Pictured: Welcome to the 15th Presidents Forum!
Dr. Byron P. White, Associate Provost for Urban Research and Community Engagement at UNC Charlotte, closed out the day with a call to action. He urged institutions to advance the mission of higher education by embracing a more community-centered orientation while withstanding and adapting to the economic, technological, and social changes higher education faces.
As attendees departed, they listened to the words of a collective poem crafted by participants throughout the day. The poem format, “I Am From,” combined the stories and memories of youth, place, and belonging, of those in the room to remind us that democracy begins at home.
Pictured: Dr. Byron P. White during the
PACE Closing Session
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